Answers to Queries.
Page 19
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Our readers will be informed by the Editor on any poiws connected the construction or use of commercial motors. Where a direct reply is desired, a stamped amt addresed encelope should be enclosed if a request for privacy is not spccuilly made, any query and answer may be published. Some replies, owing to pres,ure on our space, are held several weeks. ..\::;nteruus requests reach us for lists of moturcab and commercial-vehicle owners ; these we never supply. (Jur adverts ement columns are opal to thosewho desire to make announcements to ow;:ers for their own benfit.
Combined Tarring and Sanding Machine.
[1,920] STEAM-WAGON BUILDERS write :—" We have certain inquiries for a combined tar-spraying and road sanding machine, and we shall be much obliged if you can inform us of any firm making such tippaint us which can be fitted to a steam wagon." AN.swart.—We have not much information about. this, but we think you cannot, do better than get into touch with Taroads, Ltd., 9, Victoria Street, S.W.
Wants to Hire-Purchase a Taxi.
L1,9:?1 "Mn-au' writes :—" Could you tell me if it is possible to get a taxicab on the hire-purchase system with a first payment. of 1:25. I am a driver at present. and I have heard it is to be done. If so, could you tell me where."
ANawErt.--We would refer you, in reply to your inquiry, of the 2.1St ult., to the Belsize London Agency, Ltd., Dean's Yard, Cavendish Square, W., Mane and Overtons, Ltd., 10, Lower Grosvenor Place, S.W., and to Robert Bell, Ltd., .15, Horseferry Road, 'Westminster. So little as 225 down is accepted in particular cases.
Hackney Motor Licences.
:1,9221 " YORKSBIRE TOWN write : " We have licensed our cars at the Post-Office inst as we have done horse-cabs, at 1554. each. The licensing authorities are insisting on our paying £2 17s. per car at once ; they also tell us we are liable owing to the cars being over weight. The car we have weighed scales ?-; cwt., full up with petrol, oil, water, etc.—probably a net. weight of 20Acwt. We should esteem it a favour if you will kindly let us know if the £2 17s. is a proper charge."
ANsivER. --You will certainly have to nay the old motor tax, which is still in force for hackney carriages, of two guineas for vehicles exceeding one ton and not exceeding two tons. The 15s. is the same Inland Revenue wheel tax which you had to pay on your horse-drawn cab. The weight for the purpose of licensing should be taken without fuel and water. If, however, as you say, you are in excess of 20 cwt., you have no alternative but to pay.
Where to Put the Engine.
j,92:•:j " NFAV MA WENS write :We understand that a number of makers of trucks of large capacity, say five tons, who formerly had the driver's seat over the motor, now have driver's seat behind the motor. We realize that the prevailing practice now is to put the driver's seat behind the motor, but we do not know whether or not many of the makers who now use this form of construction formerly had driver's seat over the motor. We would appreciate being advised as to this, and, if it should be that makers have changed from driver's seat over the motor to driver's seat behind the motor, what you consider the reason 'r ANSWER.—NO English maker of five-ton petrol wagons has ever adopted any form of construction other than that which is the present-day standard in Great Britain, namely, with the driver seated behind The engine. A few early three-four-tonners were built. that. way, as for instance by the Scott-Stirling Co.. whien went out of existence some few years ago, and by the Wolseley Co., which built about 250 motorbus ehassis many of which are running in London at the iiresent day. A few manufacturers have tried the ivertype of construction, but have abandoned it in -',Ivetie of the present-day practice. Although the
overtype gives a shorter vehicle than the bonneted machine, there are other and inure-serious disadvantages, one of which is that by throwing a larger pereentage of load on the leading wheels the machines are not so easy to steer, and by some it is claimed that the sense of direction" of the driver is not so keen when he is driving an overtype machine as it is with a bonneted machine. It is doubtful, however, whether there are any other valid reasons for the adoption of the bonneted type in preference to the overtype, other than fashion and slightly-greater accessibility.
Lorry Damaged by Sinking In.
[1,920 " SOUTH " writes I should esteem it a favour if you could inform me whether I have any legal claim for damage done to my steam lorry under the following circumstances. A firm of contractors Inure been excavating a main road and filled in a, hole with loose earth, with the result that my steam wagon sank in up to the axle, damaging parts of the machinery, also putting me to expense for towing."
ANSWEli.—On the facts, so far as you have put them before us, the contractors are liable to you in respect of the damage to the machinery and the expense of havingthe, wagon towed out. This opinion is based on the assumption that the contractors filled in the hole in a. negligent manner. If the hole were improperly filled, it makes no difference to your position that the contractors were acting under statutory powers. On fhe other hand, if the contractors were not acting under such powers, the digging of the hole would eonstitute a nuisance, and the contractors would then be liable under the circumstances, whether the hole were filled in negligently or not. Of course, whilst the road remained in an unsafe condition and you went over it knowing of its condition, you would do so at your own risk.
Notice of Intended Prosecution.
[1,02.51 " Dorntrun " writes :—" I was glad to get your answer [No. 1,909.—En]. I answered the summons in person and argued the case re time of service. The magistrate treated the case as though no summons had been served, but. I did not ask for costs. It was at Kennington Lane Court, on the 12th ult."
NSWETt. —We are glad to hear this. We are not aware of any authority on the point raised by you, but in our opinion the 21 days mentioned are not clear days. Generally speaking, when a time is fixed within which an act has to be done, it must be tierformed not later than on the last day. When a time is fixed before the expiration of which an act is prohibited, it cannot be performed until the clay after the last day. Therefore, if an offence under Section 9 (2) of the Motor Car Act, 1903, be committed on the first day of the month, notice of the intended prosecution must be sent within a reasonable time, but not later than on the 22nd of the month.
With regard to the question of notice by post, in ordinary language it would be said that a letter is sent by post when it is put into the post office, and we think this is the Proper construction of the section in question. In some cases it has been held that a notice by post is not given until the time when it would in the ordinary course of post be delivered, but in those cases the difference is that. posting has been provided as a n alternative method of service, and service in the ordinary way is not effected until the document is delivered to the person who has to be served. The i.eiritirin only says the notice toast be sent..